The Ayushman Bharat public health insurance scheme is crumbling under unpaid dues surpassing ₹1.21 lakh crore. In Haryana alone, over 600 private hospitals have halted services since August 7, citing ₹500 crore in pending claims — patients like Faridabad cancer patient Jameel fear losing access to critical treatment . Similar disruptions are unfolding in Manipur, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir, where hospitals threaten to cease operations amidst mounting arrears . Systemic underfunding, stagnant package rates, bureaucratic delays, and trust deficits are pushing the flagship scheme toward collapse. Patients remain distressed, and private hospitals demand urgent reforms and timely payments. (PC: The Print)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday issued a bird flu alert, ordering heightened vigilance across zoos, bird sanctuaries, national parks, wetlands, and cow shelters. The directive includes regular sanitisation, blow-torching where necessary, and mandatory health checks for all animals and birds. Staff will receive PPE kits, safety training, and duties assigned based on risk levels. Poultry farms will be closely monitored, with strict controls on poultry product movement. The Health Department has been tasked to assess bird flu’s potential human impact and submit preventive measures. Coordination with central agencies and veterinary institutes will ensure timely response and containment. (PC: HT)

A fire broke out at Kosmos Hospital in East Delhi’s Anand Vihar on Saturday afternoon, killing a 28-year-old housekeeping staff member and injuring several others. The blaze originated in the server room on the ground floor, quickly filling the multi-storey building with smoke. Eight fire tenders responded to the emergency. Eleven people were rescued, with eight patients shifted to Pushpanjali Hospital. Three staff members were hospitalized; one, identified as Amit, died after reportedly locking himself in a third-floor bathroom. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and officials are probing possible lapses in fire safety compliance. Hospital authorities cited a short-circuit as the suspected trigger for the incident.

England has launched the world's first gonorrhoea vaccination programme amid soaring infection rates and rising antibiotic resistance. Starting today, eligible individuals can receive the vaccine free at sexual health clinics across the country. The NHS and Department of Health rolled out the initiative to combat a sharp rise in gonorrhoea cases, which reached 85,000 in 2023—three times the 2012 figure. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton called it a "world-leading breakthrough" and urged eligible people to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their partners. The vaccine aims to curb the spread of the STI, especially strains resistant to current antibiotics. (PC: NDTV)

England has launched the world’s first gonorrhoea vaccination programme at sexual health clinics, targeting high-risk groups such as gay and bisexual men with recent STI history. The vaccine, 4CMenB, already used for meningococcal B could prevent up to 100,000 cases and save the NHS £7.9 million over the next decade. Gonorrhoea cases hit a record 85,000 in 2023, the highest since 1918, with rising antibiotic-resistant strains. The initiative also offers vaccines for mpox, HPV, and hepatitis A and B. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton hailed the rollout as a major breakthrough in STI prevention and antibiotic resistance. Eligible individuals are urged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their partners. (PC: CDC & BBC)

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda announced on August 2, 2025, that India achieved a landmark 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, the highest ever and a significant rise from just under 5,000 in 2013. The country now ranks third globally, behind the U.S. and China, and leads in hand transplants thanks to its surgical expertise . Despite this, the organ donation rate remains below one per million, with over 63,000 awaiting kidney transplants and 22,000 needing liver transplants . The Aadhaar‑based NOTTO pledge portal has drawn 3.3 lakh pledges, but awareness gaps persist along with infrastructure and surgeon shortages hindering access. (PC: PTI)

A Berlin-based company, Tomorrow Bio, is offering cryopreservation services—the process of freezing human bodies after legal death—with hopes of future revival. For around ₹2 crore, clients can opt for full-body preservation, while brain-only options cost about ₹67 lakh. After death, a 24/7 emergency team rushes to begin cooling and transport to a storage facility in Switzerland, where bodies are kept at −196°C in vacuum-insulated tanks. Though the technology to revive preserved bodies does not yet exist, over 650 clients have signed up. Experts remain skeptical, calling the concept highly speculative. (PC: NDTV)  

In a groundbreaking moment for reproductive science, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born in Ohio from an embryo frozen for over 30 years. Originally created in 1994 through IVF by Linda Archerd, the embryo was cryopreserved until adopted by Lindsey and Tim Pierce via the Snowflakes program. The birth sets a world record for the oldest frozen embryo to result in a live birth. Experts say the case proves long-term cryopreservation can preserve embryo viability. The emotional journey highlights the power of embryo adoption, offering hope to families facing infertility. Thaddeus’s birth bridges generations his genetic sister was born three decades earlier, making this a surreal yet real triumph of science and faith. (PC: Times of India & IStock)

The NHS has become the first in Europe to offer a five‑minute injectable form of nivolumab, an immunotherapy previously delivered via IV over 30–60 minutes . Approved by the MHRA, this subcutaneous jab treats 15 cancers, including lung, bowel, skin, bladder, kidney, head & neck, and oesophageal types . Around 1,200 patients per month in England are expected to benefit, saving over 1,000 staff hours monthly and boosting day-unit capacity . Clinicians report it greatly enhances patient convenience at no extra NHS cost, thanks to a deal with Bristol Myers Squibb. (PC: Survey Live)    

Eight babies have been born in the UK using a groundbreaking three-person DNA technique to prevent hereditary mitochondrial disease. The method combines the mother’s and father’s DNA with healthy mitochondria from a female donor. All eight children are confirmed healthy and free from the hereditary condition, which can cause severe disability or death. Developed by the Newcastle Fertility Centre, the technique has been legal in the UK since 2015. Children inherit 0.1% of their DNA from the donor. Families expressed gratitude, calling it life-changing. Experts say this success brings hope to families facing hereditary mitochondrial diseases. (PC: BBC)